Summer Law Clerkship - 2026

You: A motivated and liberty-minded law student dedicated to individual freedom. You came to law school with a vision—to fight for your principles and make a difference. You want to learn about the world of public-interest law from the best.  

Them: Bureaucrats, city councils, mayors, governors, and federal agencies are stripping Americans of their rights every day. There's a lot of government overreach out there, and it's backed by seemingly endless resources. But fortunately, like all lumbering giants, abusive government is most vulnerable when countered by individuals who act strategically and nimbly, take calculated risks, have each other's backs, and are confident in, and passionate for, the cause—the very sort of swashbucklers we employ in spades here at PLF.  

Us: We fight back. Pacific Legal Foundation is the nation's first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty. PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories out of 20 cases litigated at the Court. We also have more than 200 active cases across the nation.  

We are a next-generation public interest law firm. What does "next-generation" mean for a legal nonprofit? It means we aren't interested in doing the same thing as everyone else. We aspire to be the best player in a constantly changing game.  

About PLF's Summer Clerk Program 

PLF's Summer Clerk Program introduces you to public-interest law, immerses you in active litigation, and offers you a unique chance to study the constitutional and philosophical framework of liberty. You will benefit from hands-on training as you perform legal research and writing projects in PLF's four litigation areas: property rights, equality and opportunity, and separation of powers, and environment and natural resources. This is a full-time, paid summer position of $22/hour, including transportation benefits and wellness leave.  

What makes this program different: 

• Assignments: Our confidence in individualism extends to how we set assignments, and this is often cited as one of the best aspects of the program. You will not only have the opportunity to work across all four practice areas, but you will also get to choose most of your assignments. Your designated supervisor will ensure you receive feedback, guide you in managing your work, and offer advice and expertise. We create the environment and opportunity for you to craft your experience, and clerks who get the most out of the program are the ones who embrace this mentality. 
• Weekly Programming: Every week, you will participate in educational and social activities to supplement your connection to PLF, the world of public interest law, and your fellow clerks. This includes field trips around the DC area, moot courts, department introductions, and deep-dive conversations with PLF attorneys on cases and litigation strategy.    
• Networking and Mentorship: One of the most important things at this stage of your career is to build relationships, so we strongly encourage all clerks to set aside time to connect with other PLFers. Many clerks naturally build mentorship relationships beyond their supervisor through working with other attorneys, and we offer a mentorship program if there is a specific area of PLF's work you are most interested in.  

Essential requirements to note:  

• The clerkship will run from May 27th to August 16th. If this end date conflicts with other commitments, you have the option of ending your clerkship on August 8th instead. 
• On May 27th and 28th, we will host an Opening Summit in our DC Office. All clerks are expected to attend. Accommodation may be made for those participating in complimentary fellowships if advance notice is given.   
• Participants are expected to work at least three days a week from our DC Office in Arlington, Virginia, for the duration of the program.  

Your specific job duties will likely include:  

• Drafting legal memoranda on research questions for active trial and appellate litigation.  
• Assisting in drafting motions and briefs before federal and state courts.  
• Contributing to the discovery process across all four of our practice areas.  

This role is ideal for someone with:  

• One to two years of law school completed by the spring or summer of 2026.  
• Excellent writing and legal research skills.  
• A demonstrated interest in the philosophical and constitutional principles of individual liberty.  

To Apply:  

We will be accepting applications from November 24th to December 31st. PLF will begin providing updates and reaching out to candidates for an interview the week of December 22nd. If you think you might be a good fit, submit the following application materials in one PDF: 

• Your resume, including your relevant educational and professional experience.  
• A cover letter explaining why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.  
• A writing sample. 
• Thoughtful responses to the application questions (these will be included in the Greenhouse application and do not need to be included in the PDF). Please do not exceed 2-3 sentences each.